29 April 2020

As of 17h00 on 28 April, the Western Cape has recorded 1935 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 29

Data notes:

*Going forward, the data will be reported as at 17h00 on the previous day, rather than at midnight in order to allow more time to prepare the daily reports.

Three cases previously allocated to Swartland have been reallocated due to updated address data.

The Western Cape has recorded another three deaths- two men, aged 78 and 67, and a 79-year old woman- all with underlying illnesses. This brings the total number of deaths in the province to 38. We send our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased at this difficult time.

Community testing and screening:

Our community screening and testing initiative continues this week- with testing in areas across the metro and in our non-metro regions. In total, we have screened nearly 200 000 people- and tested over 7000 of these.

Our screening and testing follows an active case finding approach, where we rigorously follow the pockets of infections within communities.

Community screening helps us to identify where infections may be prevalent, and to test, isolate and quarantine as necessary.

Witzenberg update:

Cabinet today received a full presentation the co-ordinated response to COVID-19 infections in the Witzenberg region. The response included an overview of screening and testing conducted to date, updates on engagements with businesses and farmers in the area as well as planned responses in the transport space.

The Departments of Agriculture and Health are currently engaging with the industry in order to develop guidelines for screening and testing on farms and have already advised on protocol for the transportation of agri-workers.

Over 35 000 masks have also been distributed to farm workers in the region, with the assistance of AgriWC and AFASA.

Education:

The Department of Basic Education today made a presentation to national Parliament containing tentative dates for the reopening of schools. These dates are not definite and do not constitute an official announcement.

This has caused some confusion and concern. Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga is expected to make announcements tomorrow and we await her comments for further clarity.

CTICC temporary hospital:

Earlier today, we announced that we will be turning the CTICC into a temporary COIVD-19 hospital, with over 800 acute beds, as part of our preparedness planning. Work will now begin to fit the site, which is expected to open in June. More details on this will be announced tomorrow.

29 April 2020

The Western Cape has surpassed other provinces in terms of positive cases of COVID-19 but this is a natural result of the extremely rigorous testing approach that the province is undertaking.

Screening and testing teams are deployed based on data which actively identifies the hotspots of infections within communities. The Western Cape Government identifies these hotspots whenever a Covid-19 case has been confirmed and the rigorous contact tracing teams then track their previous movements and contacts.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell says the provincial and regional disaster management centres continue to coordinate all operations on a 24/7 basis.

“A major focus outside of the health sector, remains ongoing humanitarian and feeding initiatives to assist vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Provincial Department of Local Government has allocated additional funding of R16.2 million to various municipalities in the Western Cape with a focus on those municipalities most at need.

“Our municipalities are already providing much needed relief in various forms, including soup kitchens, homeless shelters and food parcels. This allocation will assist them in continuing to do so. The funds have been transferred directly to the municipal accounts.”

Some of the work being done in municipalities across the province:

• Knysna Municipality provided over 1 500 food parcels to the most vulnerable members of the community over the weekend of 24-26 April.
•  In Stellenbosch Community screening and testing is being done in Kayamandi, Cloetesville and Klapmuts and progressing well. Increased road blocks and patrols by SAPS are helping to ensure lockdown regulations are adhered to. Key public spaces continue to be cleaned and sanitised.
•  Bitou municipality is doing screenings in Kranshoek and Wittedrift. Food relief efforts continue as well as loudhailing in vulnerable communities to keep communities informed.
• Mossel Bay Municipality continues with sanitising of public spaces as well as installing water tanks for additional resources in vulnerable communities.
• Hessequa municipality continues to sanitise and disinfect public facilities (including courts), as well as public toilets in informal settlements on a daily basis.
• Community Screening and Testing continues in various towns across the West Coast region of the Western Cape as the West Coast District Municipality in partnership with local municipalities continues to work towards a safer and more hygienic environment. WCDM Fire Services is assisting the South African Police Services by sanitizing the reception areas and holding cells of police stations across the West Coast District.
• The City of Cape Town has decided to re-open 19 strategically positioned ablution facilities across the metropole. This will be done in close cooperation and consultation with the City’s Health and Social Development Departments. The City’s Health Department and its Metro Health Services partners have conducted 70 310 screenings and 5 767 tests in the metropole. The City is currently reprioritising Ward Allocations Budgets to unlock funds to assist struggling residents with food and sustenance provision. The City’s food relief programme will be rolled through all 24 Sub councils and recognised NGOs as soon as the budget reprioritisation is completed.

Bredell has urged all citizens with questions or concerns to visit the provincial website: www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus or to get in touch with their local municipalities for assistance.

“If you have flu-like symptoms, and may have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19, please contact the provincial hotline on 021 928 4102 for advice on what to do next.”

ENDS.

James-Brent Styan

Spokesperson to the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

Western Cape Government

9th Floor, Utilitas Building, 1 Dorp Street, Cape Town, South Africa

Telephone: +27 21 483 2820 / Mobile: +27 84 5831670 / E-mail: james-brent.styan@westerncape.gov.za

29 April 2020

Today, the Western Cape Cabinet agreed to use the CTICC as a temporary COVID-19 hospital, creating the capacity for us to care for an additional 800 people at the peak of the pandemic.

Globally, we have seen healthcare resources being placed under severe pressure as a result of COVID-19.

The Western Cape’s scenario planning has predicted a shortfall of 1000 acute beds in the province at the peak of the pandemic. The use of the CTICC will allow us to make up the majority of this shortfall- and allow us to render care to those who need it.

We intend to make up the remainder of the shortfall with temporary beds in other facilities, in appropriate geographic locations.

Since it opened its doors, the CTICC has been an important part of the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape- contributing to the travel and events economy and creating thousands of jobs. It has hosted world leaders and celebrations. Its use as a hospital to care for hundreds of ill people during this global pandemic is its most significant contribution to our region yet.

The agreement allows the Western Cape Government to make use of the CTICC 1 building immediately up until 7 September, with an option to extend this on a month-to-month basis until the end of the year.

The CTICC has agreed to waive the hire cost of the venue, as part of its contribution to the fight against coronavirus. The temporary infrastructure build, operating and catering costs for the initial hire period will total approximately R47 million.

This amount excludes the costs that the Department of Health will incur in providing clinical equipment, oxygen, medication and temporary staff for the temporary hospital.

The inter-mediate care beds will cater for patients, presenting with milder clinical signs who need hospitalization and treatment including administration of oxygen. The CTICC will not provide for care for patients with more severe clinical signs, which will require intensive care treatment.

Security at the site will be provided by the CTICC and augmented by the City of Cape Town.

The site will be fitted out to be ready by the first week of June, well before the expected peak when these beds will be required.

The comprehensive layout of all the services which will be made available on site – including the beds, showers, nursing stations, support stations, physio stations, and bulk oxygen storage tank spaces, amongst others, – has already been prepared and as of today, is signed off for execution.

Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato said: “The City of Cape Town and Western Cape Government are working together to ensure a proactive and effective response to the pandemic. Due to the identified shortfall of hospital beds, we need to make use of the available resources at our disposal to adequately address the outbreak and to treat patients on a large-scale. This facility is well-placed with the necessary infrastructure to easily allow the site to be used as a temporary hospital.”

Western Cape Minister of Health, Nomafrench Mbombo said “Today’s announcement comes in the wake of us tabling our scenario planning strategy where we announced the anticipated bed shortfall in the province. The CTICC will function as an intermediate care facility, providing about 800 beds, showing that the province is working hard to effectively deal with this pandemic.”

Taubie Motlhabane, CEO of the CTICC said: “During these extraordinary times, we welcome the opportunity for the CTICC to be part of the solution. The conversion of CTICC 1 into a temporary COVID-19 hospital facility will add to the resources needed in our healthcare system to fight this pandemic. We are proud to be part of the team.”

The Western Cape Government has been working around the clock to prepare for the peak of the virus in the province. This hospital, together with 18 temporary testing and triage sites across the province, and a number of already operational quarantine and isolation sites, are all part of a focused response to ensure that we are able to provide care at a time when it is most needed.

I would like to thank the CTICC and the City of Cape Town, who is a joint shareholder in the CTICC with the Western Cape Government, for coming on board and responding to this urgent need. The Department of Transport and Public Works, under Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela has been working tirelessly since March to ensure that this hospital will be realized in time.

The fitting out of the site will begin immediately and we intend to open the hospital by June. We will continue to update the public on this initiative.

Members of the media will have an opportunity to ask further questions regarding this project during a digicon which will take place tomorrow afternoon. Details will be shared soon.

29 April 2020

I’ve written to the National Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, to seek clarity about whether Human Settlements construction projects are covered by the levels five and four of the listed services, as we are of the view that it should. The clarity is critical, to ensure we are all on the same page.

The draft framework, which details the staggered lifting of lockdown restrictions, the Construction and related services (including tradespeople), “civil engineering for public works projects (including water, energy and sanitation)” and “critical public works construction” are included under level five; and then “other public works civil engineering projects” is added under level four.

After the President’s announcement that lockdown regulations will on 1 May 2019 be relaxed from level 5 to level 4 and where certain sectors in the economy would be allowed to operate, the Western Cape Government (WCG) made submissions to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), including a request that the construction industry be allowed to operate.

There’s an urgent need from the entire WCG to re-commence with construction, as it will enable us to, at the very least, assist the most vulnerable, which is the elderly, disabled and backyard dwellers.

Notwithstanding the lockdown regulations and our collective effort to ensure we stop the spread of COVID-19, while also taking the social, health and economic impacts into consideration, we’ve proposed the following:

1. The consideration of the re-activation of certain construction sites during lockdown period, which include Greenfields sites and portions of construction sites which have not yet been occupied by households.
2. Allowing low density construction sites to operate, where social distancing and other public health practices can be enforced.
3. Allowing service providers who are involved in the planning, costing and design of infrastructure projects and who are mainly office-bound to be considered for activation in the lockdown period.

The return of the Human Settlement Construction is critical if we are to swiftly, as part of our Rapid Informal Settlement Support and Upgrade Programme (RISSUP), complete the erection of our Transitional Residential Units (TRU’s) in the Permanent Residential Areas (PRA’s). These PRA’s will be established on pieces of land in DuNoon and the Greater Kosovo areas, so that the informal settlements in these areas can be re-blocked.

We will also be in a better position as a department to conclude critical work on some of our units that are close to completion. This will ensure that those who are so desperately in need of a housing opportunity and that’s patiently been waiting, is afforded the opportunity to move into their brand-new homes.

As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.

Media Enquiries:

Marcellino Martin

Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers

Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za

021 483 3397 (o) / 082 721 3362 (m)

ECONOMIC CLUSTER MINISTERS

28 APRIL 2020

INTRODUCTION

The President announced a National Lockdown on 23 March, a difficult decision – in whose absence the health, social and economic consequences would have been far worse today.

The declaration enabled our nation to have an integrated and coordinated response to deal with the spread of the Corona virus, and set into motion our disaster management mechanism focusing on preventing and reducing the outbreak of the virus.

Government has accordingly decided that beyond Thursday 30 April, we should begin a gradual and phased recovery of economic activity, which will be implemented through a deliberate and cautious approach to the easing of current lockdown restrictions associated with the current level 5 classification as explained by the President on 23 April 2020.

In undertaking the Risk Adjusted Approach, we have sequenced and phased in key sectors and priority areas with a view to deepening the fight against COVID-19 whilst rebuilding our economy.

The phased in approach will affect key economic sectors and drivers as well as promote human development and wellbeing.   It had been expected that in some cases, a sector would not be able to return to full production during Level 4 or even at lower levels while the risk of infection remains.

REBUILIDING OUR ECONOMIC SECTORS
If government does not coordinate the response, there is a risk of more job losses and the contracting of the economy to unprecedented levels and it is in that context that current funding or disaster response through reallocation, reprioritisation and emergency funds must also be seen.

This plan spans over six to eight months, because we believe that the curve peak will probably arrive in September 2020.

FISCAL MEASURES
Following the President’s address on 21 April 2020, the National Treasury has issued second set of measures aimed at assisting individuals and businesses through the economic hardships brought by the pandemic.

These measures consist of fiscal and support instruments to help our economy overcome the severe impact on production, markets, trade and employement. The interventions include:

• Skills development levy holiday.
• Fast-tracking of value-added tax (VAT) refunds.
• Three-month deferral for filing and first payment of carbon tax liabilities.
• A deferral for the payment of excise taxes on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
• An increase in the expanded employment tax incentive amount:
• An increase in the proportion of tax to be deferred and in the gross income threshold for automatic tax deferrals
• Increasing the deduction available for donations to the Solidarity Fund
• Adjusting pay-as-you-earn for donations made through the employer
• Expanding access to living annuity funds
• Further support for firms will come from a R200 billion loan scheme for small and medium-sized businesses. The National Treasury is finalizing the details and should be ready by the end of this week as indicated by the Minister of Finance last week.

ON THE MINING SECTOR
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has issued a directive to all mining operations to ensure safe start-up procedures as the sector prepares to ramp up to 50% of capacity. The directive is issued to ensure compliance with Section 5(1) of the Mine Health and Safety Act (Act No. 29 of 1996), as amended, which requires that every employer must as far as reasonably practicable, provide and maintain a safe working environment.

These measures, in line with the latest disaster management regulations, should include:

– Rigorous screening of all employees, including contractors, prior to accessing the mine;
– Testing of employees with symptoms of Covid-19;
– Adequate social distancing;
– Provision of quarantine facilities for employees showing signs of COVID-19;
– Establishment and maintenance of a personal hygiene programme; and
– Provision of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including facemasks.

The direction also encourages employers to systematically phase in workers at the various mines. Start-up procedures must be developed in consultation with organized labour, which will be submitted to the department proir to ramping up operations.

TOURISM SECTOR
There is no part of   the tourism industry globally that is not impacted negatively because of COVID-19. Travel bans, airline groundings, heightened restrictions to movement not only across borders, but also within our country has meant that tourism related activities are non-existent.

As previously reported, and as part of government’s interventions to mitigate the effects of COVID-19; the Department of Tourism opened an application portal for the COVID-19 R200 million Tourism Relief Fund. However, it is a matter of public knowledge that the Department was served with Court papers by both Afriforum and Solidarity in an attempt to set aside the scheme on grounds of its transformational characteristics as it upholds the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act. In respect of the Court, whilst businesses were still able to apply, the department has kept the processing of applications on hold.

The department will be guided by the outcome of the court but stands ready to support the businesses in distress. Thus far there is over 10 thousand applications
We have commenced work with global, continental and national stakeholders to develop a post covid tourism recovery strategy.   Suffice at this stage to say that the industry will be focusing on three phases: survival, recovery and then prosperity.

LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT: COVID-19 RELEIF BENEFITS TO WORKERS
Government calls on employers to apply for the Covid-19 benefits through the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme on behalf of their employees.  To date, the UIF has received just over 103 thousand applications from employers representing about 1,75 million employees. In total, the UIF has over 1, 8 million employers registered on its database representing more than 8-million workers. As of today, the cumulative amount paid since April 27 is R3,3 billion.
Of the received applications, the UIF has processed 59 thousand employers applications which means that more 862 thousand employees will receive their benefit.  About 10 thousand applications could not be processed due to errors and the affected companies have been notified to correct their applications and resubmit. Some of the errors identified relate to incorrect banking details, making it impossible for payments to be processed.

The UIF is working around the clock to meet the extraordinary volumes of requests for assistance presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. The UIF call centre which initially had 75 agents, has increased its capacity and now has 400 agents operating the toll-free number (0800 030 007). More call centre agents will be added should the need arise.

The Department of Employment and Labour has COVID-19 guidelines to assist South African businesses.

The guidelines will help employers identify risk levels in the workplace and to determine what appropriate control measures to implement. It focuses on the Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, Safe Work Practices and Personal Protective Equipment. It includes:
• Installing high-efficiency air filters and increasing ventilation rates in the work environment;
• Encouraging sick workers to stay at home, minimising contact among workers, clients and customers by replacing face-to-face meetings with virtual communications;
• Minimising the number of workers on-site at any given time through rotation or shift work and discontinuing nonessential travel;
• Developing emergency communications plans, including a task team for answering workers’ concerns and internet-based communications;
• Provide personal hygiene resources such as no-touch refuse bins, hand soap, alcohol-based hand rubs, disinfectants, and disposable towels; and
• Provide gloves, goggles, face shields, facemasks, gowns, aprons, coats, overalls, hair and shoe covers and respiratory protection when appropriate.

In the period since the issuing of the guidelines, a clear picture has emerged about COVID19 and the nature of hazards and precautions in the work places. That should be taken to minimize the risks. To this end the department working with social partners at NEDLAC has developed OHS direction, the purpose of which is to stipulate measures that must be taken by employers in order to protect the health and safety of workers and the members of the public who enter the workplaces or are likely to be exposed to their activities.

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Since COVID-19 relief measures were announce, R530 million was set aside to support SMMEs and the Department of Small Business Development announced the SMME relief scheme to support payroll, rental and utilities over three months. To date the scheme has approved over R235 million, protecting over 11 thousand jobs. The Spaza shop support scheme which was launched about a week ago has already received over 104 applications with 88 already approved.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR A SUSTAINED RISK ADJUSTED APPROACH
Having received inputs on the Risk Adjusted Approach, government will consider them finalizing the Directions for the various sector and there will be a follow up media briefing once the regulations are published.

28 April 2020

As of 17h00 on 27 April, the Western Cape has recorded 1778 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, with 607 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated:  30

Data notes:

*Going forward, the data will be reported as at 17h00 on the previous day, rather than at midnight in order to allow more time to prepare the daily reports.

The province has sadly recorded another two deaths-two men aged 79 and 58 respectively and both with comorbidities-bringing total number of deaths in the province to 35. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

Recoveries:

As of today, the Western Cape has switched to an automated reporting of recoveries, which does not depend on the manual recording of each patient’s recovery. The Western Cape has recorded 607 recoveries.

Most residents who are infected by Covid-19 will recover, and we should remember to be kind, caring and compassionate to those who are ill.

We must also remember that while most people do recover, those with comorbidities, as well as those of an older age, might face very serious complications. Each one of us has an important role to play to help protect these vulnerable groups and to save lives.

Testing and screening:

The Western Cape has identified clusters or “hotspots” and has acted swiftly to screen and test around these hotspots, which has resulted in a higher proportion of positive tests. This is done in line with our active case finding approach.

This has allowed us to focus on the contacts associated with these cases and to ensure that every person who is infected with Covid-19 is contacted, and advised to isolate or quarantine. This is a critical part of our health department’s response, and essential for containing the virus.

We thank the national department for their positive response to this practice and for the support the national Minister has offered.

Witzenberg:

One of the areas where we are taking this active case finding approach is in Witzenberg- where we have a total of 100 cases today.  We have been concentrating our screening and contact tracing efforts in this area since the first cluster of cases emerged to make sure that we identify every single person identified with Covid-19.

Our Minister of Health Nomafrench Mbombo visited Ceres today and joined for the screening programme.

Every resident of Witzenberg has an important role to play in helping us stop the spread. It is essential that you stay home. When you do leave the house to buy essential goods, you must keep your distance from all other people. Remember to stand 1.5 metres away from others and avoid going into any space where people have gathered. You should also always wear a cloth mask, and you must follow the 5 golden rules of hygiene at all times.

If you are not feeling well, you must stay home, and call the Coronavirus hotline for advice of what to do next.

Witzenberg is a rural area with a large community of seasonal farm workers. While we understand that many may be making plans to return home at this time of year, we urge them not to. At this time, it is best that they stay in the Western Cape and avoid traveling to other provinces.

We urge all residents in the area to take the opportunity to be screened during our screening process. Those who are symptomatic will be tested. Anyone feeling ill or experiencing flu-like symptoms is urged to stay at home, and call the national or provincial hotlines (0800 029 999 or 021 928 4102) or to call ahead to their clinic before arriving.

Meeting with Eastern Cape Premier

 Today, Transport Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela, Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner Yolisa Matakata and I held a meeting with the Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane where we discussed issues around taxis travelling for funerals as well as the movement of seasonal agricultural workers between provinces.

We must be sensitive to the fact that many Western Cape residents may want to return to the Eastern Cape for funerals and this is allowed under the regulations. However, we are aware that there are instances of criminality and the use of fraudulent or fake death certificates. Between us, we were able to map the way forward, which includes joint operations by both provinces, to ensure that we are able to respond to the needs of our residents, without putting either province at further risk of infection.

27 April 2020

As of 17h00 on 26 April, the Western Cape has recorded 1618 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub Districts Non-Metro:

Unallocated: 24

Data notes:

*Going forward, the data will be reported as at 17h00 on the previous day, rather than at midnight in order to allow more time to prepare the daily reports.

The province has also recorded one more death-a 63 year old woman with comorbidities-bringing the total number of deaths to 33. We send our condolences to her loved ones at this time.

Khayelitsha Testing and Triage Centre:

Today I had the opportunity to visit the newly completed testing and triage centre at the Khayelitsha Hospital. This is one of 17 such planned facilities which will be rolled out in the province. These facilities have been designed to relieve the pressure on emergency services, and allow for patients to be tested, assessed and assisted separately from the other services.

These temporary facilities are part of our efforts to ensure that our health care system will not be overwhelmed once we reach the peak infections t, and that we are able to provide appropriate care and assistance to our communities.

We have already rolled out similar facilities in Mitchells Plain and Paarl and have a number of others currently under construction to come online soon.

Together with our community screening and testing programme, these facilities are an important part of our testing response. The Western Cape has been focusing its testing on identifying pockets of infection or “bush fires” so that where there is an infection, we can identify all the contacts associated with that patient, and screen or test them as required. This active case finding approach is a key pillar of our health department’s response strategy.

Social distancing:

A number of the “bushfires” we have identified have been in places where people are able to gather under lockdown regulations; supermarkets, public transport and places of work, where people are employed as essential workers.

Social distancing must become part of our everyday lives for the foreseeable future. Whether its standing in a queue in a supermarket, queuing to collect a social grant, or in the workplace, whether it be an office, or a factory, keeping a physical distance of 1.5 metres is as important as handwashing and wearing a mask, for stopping the spread.

Businesses, whether they will be opening under level four, or in a later level, should all be preparing their plans now, for how they will operate when they are allowed to reopen. This includes the hygiene measures they intend to implement, and how they will ensure social distancing in the workplace. This may include increased numbers of shifts, with fewer people on each, or that some staff continue to work from home.

Careful planning now is essential to ensure that as we open up our economy even further, we are not putting those people who are returning to work, at increased risk of infection.

Freedom Day message:

Today, we celebrate those South Africans who fought tirelessly for our freedom, often at a heavy personal cost. We remember their sacrifices, and the multitude of freedoms we have won in democratic South Africa.

The country currently faces the massive challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we should use today as a reminder of what we as a nation have been able to accomplish by working together.

WESTERN CAPE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Date: 27 April 2020

Release: Immediately

Western Cape businesses have made their voices heard on the Covid-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy

In the last 48 hours our teams have worked around the clock to engage with economic stakeholders across the Western Cape to ensure that the many voices of business are heard as part of national government’s consultation on the proposed Covid-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy.

While we continue to support the nation-wide lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19,  it is also critical, that where we can get people back to work, we do so as soon as possible to ensure that livelihoods are maintained, and that we can start to rebuild our economy.

So, we welcome and appreciate the opportunity to submit comments on the Schedule of Services as part of the Covid-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy.

In response we have directly engaged with 445 economic stakeholders, across business and industry in the Western Cape, and we have received over 40 submissions which we have forwarded on to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).

In addition to the inputs received from our economic stakeholders, we have also submitted further inputs for consideration by COGTA pertaining specifically to the conditions, regulations and inclusion of certain economic activity for Level 4. These recommendations take into consideration the stringent health and safety measures that will be applied by business to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Our proposed amendments to Level 4 of the Schedule of Services include, but are not limited to the following:

• Including a number of agricultural and other products for export such as wine and hops, yachts and boats, engine parts, plants and herbal products and any other product deemed essential in another country, as well as the movement of imported goods to for warehousing purposes.
• Allowing the construction industry to operate, especially where there is minimal labour and more use of capital equipment, and with the option of split shifts to ensure social distancing is adhered to
• Allowing manufacturing to operate at 50% capacity where it is safe to do and also allowing certain sectors to operate night shifts under curfew, particularly for manufacturing, agri-processing and BPO sectors
• Allowing a number of additional sectors to open, particularly those that would allow for SMMEs and the informal sector to open, such as nurseries, film production, specialty stores such as bakeries, butcheries and health food stores and laundry and dry-cleaning services
• Allowing for eCommerce under level 4, as this will support the promotion and opening of retail, while ensuring that people remain at home instead of visiting physical stores.

Download the full submission as a PDF document here >>

We will continue to motivate that where businesses in the Western Cape are able to operate safely they can do so, and so I have written to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, to request him to convene an urgent meeting of the Ministers and Members of Executive Councils (MinMEC) to discuss the implementation of the risk-adjusted approach to the lockdown and the proposed “Level 4” restrictions in the provinces.

To avoid a return to a hard lockdown, it is imperative that every business that is operating now, or which opens under the new approach to the lockdown, plays by the rules, and implements the necessary health and safety measures as instructed by national government to avoid further negative impacts on their respective sector.

The Western Cape economy can and will rebound from this crisis, and together we will do everything possible to ensure that.

Notes for media:

Find link to article online here:  https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/businesses-have-made-their-voices-heard-covid-19-risk-adjusted-strategy

Media Queries:

Francine Higham

Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities

(Responsible for the Provincial Treasury and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism)

Tel: 021 483 4327 / Cell: 071 087 5150 / Email: francine.higham@westerncape.gov.za

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES – FRAMEWORK FOR SECTORS

25 April 2020

Permitted goods, services and movement.

Please click on the link to download the document:  

2020 04 25 Permitted goods, services and movement (Public Version).